City of Lakewood

Cardrooms ("minicasinos") prohibited ballot measure

The Lakewood City Council submits the following question to the voters of the City of Lakewood regarding the prohibition of cardrooms in the city:

Should licensed gambling in the form of the conduct or operation of social card games as commercial stimulants ( commonly known as "minicasinos") be prohibited in the city of Lakewood?

Yes [] No []

Explanatory Statement:

Under state law social card games are allowed as a commercial stimulant to other business such as restaurants. There are currently four (4) buinesses in the city of Lakewood using social card games as commercial stimulant. These businesses are commonly referred to as "minicasinos"

IN FY 2007 tax revenue generated by "minicasinos" was $2.907 million. Pursuant to state law, this revenue shall be used primarily for enforcement of provisions of state gambling regulations.

These businesses are all located within a half mile of the 1-5 corridor.

State law preempts the ability of the city to control the number of these businesses: The city may either ban them entirely or allow them subject only to state licensing requirements. The city can, however, conduct usual zoning control over types of development such as commercial versus residential and "minicasinos" cannot be established where commercial development is not allowed.

The ballot measure, if passed would require existing licensed card rooms, commonly known as "minicasinos" to close immediately and prohibit new businesses of this type from opening.